Method of annealing pickled sheets



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Original Filed Oct. 1, 1924 FIE-L1.

' QmW Patented Feb. 4, 1930 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM E. CAUGHERTY, 0F NATRONA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ALLEGHENY STEEL COMPANY, OF BRACKENRID'GE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA Application filed October 1, 1924, Serial No. 740,950. Renewed May 23, 1929.

This invention relates to the art of annealing steel sheets from which rolling mill scale has been removed.

It is now customary in annealing pickled steel sheets, where it is'necessary to raise the sheets to a'temperature sufiiciently high to normalize the structure, to anneal the sheets singly. This is done by means of a continuous heating furnace, and therefore is more or less costly. It is done, however, because it is impossible to use the ordinary commercial methods of box annealing. The sheets, when box annealed, are piled one on top of the other, and when raised to a tem perature sufiiciently high to normalize the structure, have a tendency to stick or Weld together.

An object of this invention is to provide a method of box annealing pickled steel sheets so that the sheets may be raised to a temperature sufficiently high to normalize the structure without sticking or welding one to the other.

This, as well as other objects which will readily appear to 'those skilled in this particular art, I attain by means of the method and apparatus described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings accompanying the same, and forming part of this application. I

' In the drawings, Figure 1 is a View in sectional elevation of the bed and a sheet support of an annealing box suitable for use in carrying out this invention. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but shows the sheets in place on their support, and the cover of the box in place.

The annealing box for carrying out this invention consists of any suitable base member 3. formed of cast iron or cast steel and provided with an upstanding edge flange 4, as is now customary. A cover 5 is supported on the base member, and is of such size that a surrounding channel 6 is provided, which is ordinarily filled with sand to form aseal between the interior and exterior of the box. The box cover will be provided with means I as is now customary, whereby it may be raised by means of a crane when it is desired to open up the box for the removal of sheets or to close the box before annealing commences.

The sheet support is preferably composed of two more or less L-shaped members, placed back to back, as shown in the drawing. Each of these members is provided with a base portion 7 and an upright portion 8. Thefaces 9 and 10 of these portions preferably stand at right'angles one to the other, and face 10 is inclined at a slight angle to the vertical, so that sheets resting on base 7 will lean against and be supported by face 10 of upright 8, and when stacked on end, as shown in Fig. 2, will have no tendency to fall outwardly or away from upright 8. In other words, the sheets-will stand in equilibrium, and will exert but a slight pressure on one another.

The height of face 10 will preferably be equal to the width of the sheets to be annealed. and the length of this face from one end of the support to the other will preferably be equal to the length of the sheets to be annealed.

The base portions? of the supports are prov vided with vertically extending flanges 11, which willconfine the end of the sheets and prevent them from sliding outwardly.

The support is made in two sections, as illustrated, in order that each half may be tilted by means of a crane so that it will rest on the face 12, which in the drawings is shown as standing vertical. \Vhen in this tilted position, the sheets may be stacked thereon and the support may then be elevated by means of a crane, turned and placed in the position shown in Fig. 2, with the sheets standing on end.

I have found in practice that-by supporting the sheets in this manner, even though they are pickled, they may be raised to a temperature sufficiently high (16001650 F.) to normalize the structure of the steel without sticking. This, I believe, is due to the slight pressure between the sheets. The sheets are unconfined except at their lower extreme edges, and therefore are free to expand under the heat applied while still maintained in equilibrium.

It will be apparent that various modifications may be made in the supporting structure, which maybe cast in one piece or formed in a number of sections suitably secured together if desired. The support may be made of cast iron or cast steel, but cast iron is preferable, since'it will not warp under the heats necessary during the normalizing process.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is i 1. The method of annealing sheets, which consists in supporting a number of sheets on edge so that the sheets are slightly inclined to the vertical and the lower edges lie in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the sheets, permitting free expansion of said sheets while confining the lower edges thereof to maintain said edges in said plane and then in warming said sheets while so supported sutficiently to normalize the structure thereof.

2. The method of annealing sheets, which consists in assembling separate stacks of sheets on edge so that the planes of said sheets are slightly inclined to the vertical and the supporting edges of said sheets lie in a plane perpendicular to the planes of the sheets, permitting the free expansion of said sheets while confining the lower edges thereof to maintain said edges in said plane and raising the temperature of said sheets sufficiently high to normalize the structure thereof.

3. The method of annealing sheets which consists in supporting a number of sheets on edge so that the sheets are slightly inclined to the vertical "in a common plane, and are partially supported in a plane parallel to said common plane, and partially supported in a plane perpendicular to the plane of their lower edges, permitting free expansion of said sheets while confining the lower edges thereofto maintain said edge in their plane,

and then in warming said sheets while so supported suificiently to normalize the structure thereof.

4; The method of annealing sheets which consists in the provisio of a right angle supporting member there or, said member having an inner right angular surface whose- -planes are inclined with respect to the planes of the outer right angular surface thereof, so that said member will support the sheets on their edges slightly inclined to the vertical, and the lower edges willlie in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the sheets, permitting free expansion of said sheets while confining the lower edges thereof to maintain said edges in their plane, and then in warming said sheets while so supported sufiieiently to normalize the structure thereof.

5. The method of annealing sheets which consists in the provision of a pair of right angle supporting members therefor, each of said members having a vertical surface adapted to rest against a corresponding vertical surface 'ofthe other, said members having inner right angular surfaces thereof, so that said member will support the sheets on their edges slightly inclined to the vertical, and

the lower edges will lie in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the sheets, permitting free expansion of said sheets while confining the lower edges thereof to maintain said edges in their plane, and then in warming said sheets while so supported sufliciently to normalize the structure thereof.

6. The method of annealing sheets which consists in the provision of right angles supporting members therefor, each of said members having an upper lower arm, the inner surface of the lower arm rising from the horizontal to the outer edge thereof, and the inner surface of the upper arm at right angles to said lower arm, so that said member will support the sheets on their edges slightly inclined to the vertical, and the lower edges will WILLIAM E. CAUGHER' IY. 

